“Head Games,” a documentary based on Christopher Nowinski’s book of the same title, takes on the controversial issue of head injuries in sports.
The film, which was directed by Steve James, hits close to home. In 2011 former Chicago Bears player Dave Duerson committed suicide. Duerson’s suicide was believed to be a result of his neurodegenerative disease linked to concussions. In February of this year, his family filed a wrongful death suit against the NFL, claiming the league didn’t do enough to prevent or treat the concussions that severely damaged his brain before he killed himself.

Featured in the documentary is the author of the book, Nowinski. Concussions have caused him devastating setbacks. After playing football at Harvard, Nowinski moved on to a professional career in pro-wrestling, which left him with numerous head injuries.

Eventually, Nowinski couldn’t even work out because of the nausea he felt. He decided he needed to do something about head injuries in sports, realizing he may not be the only athlete suffering from them.
Indeed, Nowinski isn’t the only athlete suffering from brain damage caused by concussions suffered while playing sports.

Other athletes featured in the documentary include former Philadelphia Flyers player Keith Primeau, who retired from the NHL in 2006 after suffering his fourth concussion. He now advocates for safer measures in the hockey league, but given that the game is notorious for its hard physicality, it has proven to be an uphill battle.

The most surprising testimony comes from Cindy Parlow, 34, a former member of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team and three-time Olympic medalist. Soccer is not as prevalent a sport in head injury discussions, but it turns out women in soccer report more concussions than in men’s soccer.Parlow estimates half of the goals she scored in her career were headers, and has been so plagued by concussion effects that she uses a GPS when driving even on the most familiar streets.

Aside from the heart-wrenching athlete testimonials, there is scientific and medical evidence to back up the documentary’s argument that concussions have devastating consequences for athletes.

Alan Schwarz, a sportswriter for the New York Times, gives the example of Andre Waters, former defensive back for the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals. Waters committed suicide in 2006 and Nowinski asked the family’s permission to have his brain examined. Neurologists at the University of Pittsburgh found that Waters’ brain had degenerated to that of an 85-year-old man and concluded that his suicide was a result of his sustained brain injuries that led to his depression and death.

According to a study done at the University of Michigan, retired NFL players are more likely than other men to have brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Although the research and evidence is convincing, it may not be enough to convince professional sports leagues to take extra precautions. Not every athlete that gets a concussion will get a neurodegenerative disease. The film challenges the sports culture of hard physical contact, even though spectators and athletes alike have accepted injuries as part of the game.

There is a moment in the film that manages to convince any person about the safety of athletes. Kids in youth football league in Chicago are shown playing, their bodies clashing, their heads smashing onto the grassy field, trying to mimic the famous players they see on television.

Any parent watching can understand that this documentary is trying to save the future athletes of professional sports from the pain and trauma that comes with concussions caused by playing sports. Maybe this will be enough for people in sports to start taking more preventative measures to ensure the safety of athletes.
“Head Games” is playing at the Siskel Theater located at 164 N. State Street.